Insufficient grid capacity for solar has meant that a local grid in Devon can’t cope, with the result that a solar farm has had to shut down until September.
Just as demand increased for power along with the rise in temperatures, Britain’s biggest community solar project has been forced to shut down by the government’s energy system operator to avoid overloading the grid with renewable energy.
The Derril Water Solar Farm near Pyworthy in north west Devonshire (Torridge district) was ordered to shut, due to concerns that the large amount of rooftop solar in the area could destabilise the power grid by triggering a “thermal overload”.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is said to have instructed National Grid to shut a key “super grid transformer” over the summer. This was done to stop the rooftop solar in the area from pushing transmission network voltage beyond its limits.
The co-operative’s board said the “unexpected” shutdown order was “enforced on our solar park and other generators in north Devon with no warning”
The shutdown is expected to cost the co-operative scheme’s almost 10,000 householders and small businesses about £2m in lost revenue. It will be allowed to restart in September.
The project does not expect to receive compensation or insurance to cover the lost summer revenue from the solar park, which was funded by £20m raised from cooperative members and a £22m long-term bank loan.
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